The Uruguayan Frente Amplio governmental experiences are more often than not referred to as particular forms of neoextractivism of continental dimensions that articulate the production of raw materials for export to a fairly equitative distribution of the capital surplus. In this article I will attempt to show that the Uruguayan model of national development cannot be reduced to extractivism, and that its analysis can be complexified by the concept of 'extraction.' Based upon ongoing anthropological research about the reactivation of the sugarcane industry in Northern Uruguay, I will argue that the production changes triggered by Uruguayan neo-developmentalism do not only depend upon an intensive exploitation of natural resources, but they also rely on a series of administrative procedures aimed at bringing out some sort of human 'quality' in people that renders them compatible with long-term capitalist development.

Meat and meat products constitute important source of protein, fat, and several functional compounds. Although beef consumption may implicate possible negative impacts on human health, its consumption can also contribute to human health. Quality traits of beef, as well as its nutritional properties, depend on animal genetics, feeding, livestock practices, and post mortem procedures. Available data show that emerging beef production systems are able to improve both, quality and nutritional traits of beef in a sustainable way. In this context, Argentina’s actions are aimed at maximising beef beneficial effects and minimising its negative impact on human health, in a way of contributing to global food security.

The aim of this study was to characterize the level and nature of the pesticide contamination received by one-sided livebearer fish (Jenynsia multidentata) from a watercourse situated within the main agricultural region of Argentina, and to assess the effects of this contamination on fish health. Juvenile onesided livebearer fish (Jenynsia multidentata) were collected in December 2011 and March 2012 from three sites along the Pergamino River. Pesticide contamination was characterized by extracting whole fish and analytically determining thirty different pesticide molecules. The biomarkers catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and cholinesterases were assessed. Body condition was calculated as an estimate of the amount of energy reserves possessed by the fish. Seventeen different pesticides were detected in fish tissues with 81% of captured animals containing at least one pesticide molecule. The pyrethroid insecticides fenvalerate and bifenthrin were most frequently detected, being respectively found in 41.8 and 36.4% of samples tested. Highly toxic dichlorvos and pirimiphos-methyl were detected. Differential levels of contamination could not be established amongst sites but were observed within sites amongst the two sampling dates. The months when pesticide residues were most abundant from in Site A and B corresponded to the months when body condition was at its lowest in the two sites. The inhibition of Che activity in March when body condition was reduced also points to a role of insecticide contamination in the reduction of body condition. These findings provide strong new evidence that current-used agricultural pesticides can accumulate in wild fish and impact their health and energetics.

The aim of this study was to characterize the level and nature of the pesticide contamination received by one-sided livebearer fish (Jenynsia multidentata) from a watercourse situated within the main agricultural region of Argentina, and to assess the effects of this contamination on fish health. Juvenile one-sided livebearer fish (Jenynsia multidentata) were collected in December 2011 and March 2012 from three sites along the Pergamino River. Pesticide contamination was characterized by extracting whole fish and analytically determining thirty different pesticide molecules. The biomarkers catalase, glutathion-S-transferase, and cholinesterases were assessed. Body condition was calculated as an estimate of the amount of energy reserves possessed by the fish. Seventeen different pesticides were detected in fish tissues with 81% of captured animals containing at least one pesticide molecule. The pyrethroid insecticides fenvalerate and bifenthrin were most frequently detected, being respectively found in 41.8 and 36.4% of samples tested. Highly toxic dichlorvos and pirimiphos-methyl were detected. Differential levels of contamination could not be established amongst sites but were observed within sites amongst the two sampling dates. The months when pesticide residues were most abundant from Site A and B corresponded to the months when body condition was at its lowest in the two sites. The inibition of Che activity in March when body condition was reduced also points to a role of insecticide contamination in the reduction of body condition. These findings provide strong new evidence that current-used agricultural pesticides can accumulate in wild fish and impact their health and energetics.

Olive cultivation covers approximately 100.000 hectares in Argentina and has become an important manufacturing sector in various purely agro-industrial regions of this country. The progress of olive oil industry and its particular dependence on foreign markets give rise to this article. The main objective was to describe the evolution of world olive oil market, and evaluate the sector’s competitiveness in the country. The main results are: first of all, that the Argentine product is positioned in the international market, despite having submitted competitiveness problems; and secondly, in the current post-crisis scenario, it could continue gaining market driven by a recovery in global demand and directing production towards relatively more dynamic destinations.

The forms of relationship between family farming and agribusiness have been discussed at various times and latitudes, persisting theoretical fashion and conceptual categories. In this context, it is interesting to investigate the experience of contract farming in the case of the Province of Misiones (Argentina). Instead of from a model for linking production and marketing alternative for the commercialization sector it becomes a means of ensuring raw material both in quality and quantity. Production contracts are a widespread practice but certainly their characteristics experience changes. Therefore, we want to know how family farmers act against its insertion into the market with unfavourable conditions for their future.

Quality and safety are important challenges in traditional fermented sausage technology. Consequently, the development of a tailored starter culture based on indigenous microbiota constitutes an interesting alternative. In the present study, spontaneously fermented goat meat sausages were created and analyzed using a physicochemical and microbiological approach. Thereafter 170 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated and preliminary characterized by phenotypic assays. The hygienic and technological properties, and growth and fermentative potential of isolates using a goat-meat-based culture medium were evaluated. All strains proved to have bioprotective features due to their acidogenic metabolism. Almost all grew optimally in meat environments. LAB isolates presented proteolytic activity against meat proteins and enriched amino acid contents of the goat-meat-based model. The most efficient strains were four different Lactobacillus sakei isolates, as identified by genotyping and RAPD analysis. L. sakei strains are proposed as optimal candidates to improve the production of fermented goat meat sausages, creating a new added-value fermented product.